Electric bikes are a lot of fun to ride in the winter, as we’ve already said in our previous article, “How to Prepare Your Electric Bike for Winter Riding.” But, as that story mentioned, there are key things you can do to get ready for the season, including switching out your tires to studded tires, rust proofing certain areas of your bike and getting warm clothes, winter boots and a waterproof, breathable jacket. But what should you do to maintain your electric bike throughout the winter?

Store Your Electric Bike Properly

If you choose to store your bike between November and March, rather that ride it, there are things you should do to maintain your electric bike. For example, if you’re storing it, make sure to keep it in a dry location that’s not too hot or too cold. If you have to leave it in an unheated shed over the winter, for example, remove the battery and store it inside the house. Also, don’t charge your battery if it’s very cold (below freezing) as that does harm to the cells. Instead, wait for it to be at room temperature before charging. And, as mentioned in our “How To Take Care of Your Lithium Battery” blog, make sure your battery is partially charged when storing, preferably between 40% and 80%, and check its charge occasionally.

Wipe Down Your Electric Bike After Every Ride

If you are riding your electric bike in the winter time, try to avoid doing so when it’s very slushy outside as the watery, salty snow can get embedded in your gears and seep into hard-to-reach areas. That said, wiping down your electric bike after every ride will help a lot. We recommend you follow the instructions we laid out in our “How to Clean Your Electric Bike” article. But we also know it can be hard to rinse a bike in the wintertime so instead wipe it down with an old cloth after every ride. This may seem like a lot but it’s important that salty water from the roads not be allowed to dry on your bike. Fenders do an excellent job of keeping water from getting into the frame but they don’t protect your rims, spokes, chainrings and chain. So give those a quick wipe to dry them before storing for the night.

Clean Your Chain Regularly

It’s not enough to wipe down your chain regularly – it’s important to clean it and use a bike chain-specific lubricant regularly. If the chain has a lot of dirt or grime build-up, use a chain solvent such as Simple Green or warm water and any degreasing dish soap, and an old toothbrush to scrub away the grim. It doesn’t take very long but it will save you money to have a professional unclog all the gunk in your chain later. Then use a bike chain lubricant on it liberally to ward off rust.

Although infamous for its traffic-clogged freeways, L.A. is an excellent city to bike around the writer says because between the clogged arteries are “mile after square mile of low-density, low-stress residential bliss.” It was a warm and sunny day when he first got on the electric bike and his description of riding with the motor is typical of most people who try ebikes for the first time. “Reader, I flew, past even the MAMILs (middle-aged men in Lycra) out for their weekend rides. Their glares glanced off my back; other riders seemed perplexed at my speed. I get it. Watching someone ride one of these things is a little like seeing a cat leap 10 feet — it defies what your eyes have gotten used to believing is possible.”

“I thought of my e-bike more like a car than a bicycle. And maybe that is the way to think of them: not as high-class bicycles for riders who want to sweat less, but as low-cost, low-maintenance vehicles.”

The writer took two long rides throughout the city over the course of the week and came to realize that riding an electric bike, “feels as if you have superhuman strength, and that’s how people look at you, too (with a mixture of envy and anxiety.”

He then goes on to make the most important point of the article and one that we should all be thinking because electric bikes aren’t about replacing traditional bicycle journeys. Many hardcore bikers have the inaccurate notion that riders of electric bicycles are cheating because the motor is assisting in their pedalling. But what would they say if we told them that the other option was driving a car? Because that’s the case for many of us: we could burn fossil fuels driving to work or to the store or we could have fun riding an electric bike instead.

In the article, Grabar writes, “I thought of my e-bike more like a car than a bicycle. And maybe that is the way to think of them: not as high-class bicycles for riders who want to sweat less, but as low-cost, low-maintenance vehicles for people who drive three miles to work alone. Think of an e-bike as a replacement for a car, not a manually powered bike, and suddenly it seems cheap. It seems easy. It seems green. Parking is a piece of cake. And unlike a car, it never gets stuck in traffic.”

To read the article in its entirety, log on to the story on Slate‘s website.

One of the great things about owning a Pedego store is you get to meet so many fantastic people. In fact, that’s a highlight. As an example, Julie recently told us about how many new friends she’s made after she and Ruby opened Pedego Qualicum Beach five years ago. “I could go on and on about how many friends we have now,” she says. “We love that people shop locally. For us it’s all about service and smiles.”

Buying an electric bike at a store is one of the most pleasurable experiences you can have. Especially at a Pedego store because they’re so colourful and fun. It’s the complete opposite of purchasing an ebike online. Your computer is never going to smile back at you and then tell you all the amazing, secret trails around your area. It’s not going to introduce you to others. Sure, it may give you a discount, but at what cost? If something breaks on your electric bike will your computer fix it?

We were inspired by Independent Bike Store Day on March 24th to list the reasons why people should buy an electric bike at a store versus purchasing one online. The exception to that rule is purchasing an electric bike on the products page of our website because in most every case we’ll send the electric bike to your closest bicycle store to have them build it and pass along the support you’ll need to thoroughly enjoy your electric bike experience.

So, without further ado, here are eight reasons why you should by an electric bike at a store.

You Can Try A Bike Before You Buy And Compare Models

A bike isn’t a book. You have to get comfortable with it and on it. The owners and employees in the stores live and breathe bikes and have the expert information to get you on the right one. For example, do you know the realistic distances you are likely to get on a 48V 10Ah versus a 48V 15Ah battery? It’s not the often-inflated claims published online. Or, why does the Stretch cargo bike have a 24-inch wheel and what differences does it make versus the 26-inch and 28-inch options on the City Commuters? We recommend visiting a store and trying them all to decide what’s best for you.

Your Bike Is Built For You

Have you ever tried putting together a piece of IKEA furniture? Even those without moving parts can be frustrating to build in your home. There’s a reason every bike store has at least one person on site with a mechanic’s certificate. It’s so they can effectively and safely assemble the bikes, check all the fastenings and set up such important items as brakes. You don’t want to mess up setting those up!

You Receive Ongoing Support

This is one of the best reasons why you should buy an electric bike at a store. Electric bike manufacturers that only sell their products online can offer a discounted price but when something breaks, or when regular maintenance is required, you’re often left on your own. All Pedego bikes come with a two-year warranty and many stores offer tune-ups as part of the purchase price. Unless you’re a bike mechanic, you’re going to have to visit a bike store eventually. And there’s a chance they may not know how to fix the electric bike you purchased online.
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You Make Connections

As mentioned above, buying an electric bike is a fun, social experience. Some people require multiple visits to bike stores to decide on an ebike they want and over time you’ll get to know your local store owner and the mechanics. They’ll introduce you to others who love to bike and you’ll make new friends who will want to go ride with you outdoors rather than just interact with you on social media.

You’ll Get Answers & Advice About Upgrades & Accessories

Quick: what’s the weight difference between spoke wheels and mag tires? And do you know if that child trailer you’re looking at can easily fit onto your ebike? How about what’s the best lock to use? Sure, you could spend time looking up the questions to those answers online but what about the questions you don’t know that you don’t know? A shop owner or employee is there to help answer all your questions and provide advice about what model is right for you as well as what upgrades and accessories you should consider.

You’ll Be Part Of A Community

One of the best things about owning a Pedego electric bike is that there are other Pedego riders out there looking to ride with you. In fact, there’s a reason so many bike stores have coffee shops attached to them now — it’s because being a bicycle rider automatically makes you a member of a community of other like-minded people. Sure, this can happen online. (For example, we just heard from Pedego owners in Richmond, BC, who met an Oregon couple on the American Pedego Owners Facebook page and they went riding together in California.) But it’s a lot easier, faster and more powerful to just head down to your local bike shop and say hi.

You’ll Benefit Your Local Economy

We forget that it’s the independent stores that keep our local economies flourishing. A dollar spent within your community stays within your community. By purchasing something online, you’re only benefitting the company at the end of the line. For example, think of the little league teams and local charities in your area that are supported by local businesses. Large online corporations aren’t doing that.

You’ll Get Out Of The House

We all spend far too much time in front of screens in our daily lives. Get off the couch, get out of the house and visit your local bike store. Those first strides out your door will literally be the first steps you take to an exciting and fun new life involving an electric bicycle.

So, to sum it all up, there are benefits for you, for the shop owner and employees and for your community as a whole when you purchase an electric bike at a store. But don’t just take our word for it. Why do you shop at your local bike store? Or why do you not? Let us know in the comments section below.